Protestors Seek Review of Fracking Health Impact

BUFFALO, NY - The ongoing controversy over hydrofracking, a means of extracting natural gas deposits from rocks deep underground, drew people to a Buffalo park today for a day of protest.

Those opposed to the process of turned out in Bidwell Park for a "Global Frackdown" event, part of an international movement against the technology and what they say are numerous pollution problems tied to the process.

Governor Cuomo has delayed a decision on whether to allow fracking in New York state pending a health department review. Some question how thorough that review will be.

"We've been calling on them, instead of doing a review, to really do the cumulative health impact assessment that New Yorkers deserve," said Rita Yelda of New Yorkers Against Fracking, one of the organizers of Saturday's protest."Hydrofracking has broad range of impacts on a community."

Supporters of fracking claim it can be done safely and feel the state is missing out on job creation and development. Recently, Norse Energy of Blasdell, which specialized in gas leases in the state, fired its remaining workers as it went into bankruptcy .